Tigers vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 6/20/2025

In Friday night MLB action, the Detroit Tigers will invade Steinbrenner Field to battle the Tampa Bay Rays. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Tigers (48-28) are six games above .500 on the road and own the best overall record in the majors. On Thursday, Detroit split a doubleheader with visiting Pittsburgh. The Tigers took the opener by a 9-2 final score and dropped the nightcap 8-4. 

Twenty-nine year old righty Jack Flaherty (5-7 4.03 ERA) will head to the hill for the Tigers in this contest. In his last start, Flaherty (4.2 IP) issued five walks and surrendered seven runs during an 11-1 home loss versus Cincinnati.

The Tampa Bay Rays have won seven of their last 11 games and trail AL East Division leading New York by 2.5 games. Last night, Tampa Bay batters went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base during a 4-1 home loss versus Baltimore. SP Dennis Rasmussen (6-5) gave up two runs in five plus innings and took the loss for the Rays (41-34), who fell to 25-22 at home. 

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash will give the nod to right-hander Shane Baz (6-3 4.54 ERA) in the series opener. The Rays have won Baz’s previous five starts and he has allowed ten runs across his last 28 plus frames.

Tampa Bay SP Shane McClanahan (triceps) should start throwing off a mound soon and plans to return in about a month. Through 76 games, Detroit ranks 7th in OPS and 5th in runs scored. For the season, Tampa Bay ranks 14th in OPS and 8th in runs scored. Take the Rays to win at home. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 5-3.